obligatory matters, benefecial and non benefecial knowledge, rewards for seeking knowledge, (reference- uthool-e-thalatha, the excellence of knowledge by al-Hafiz ibn Rajab al-Hanali)

1. OBLIGATORY
KNOWLEDGE IN ISLAM

2. Information & awareness
gained through experience
or education
(oxford)
DEFINITION OF
KNOWLEDGE

3. Allah mentions knowledge(ilm) in two
ways
Praisworthy - Beneficial knowledge – ilm naafi
Blame worthy- Non-beneficial knowledge – Gair
naafi

4. “Allah bears witness that none
has the right to be worshipped
except Him and so do the
angels and those firmly
endowed with knowledge”
Surah
Zumar:9
Evidence for
Benefecial knowledge

5. • “And say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge”Surah Imran:13
• “It is only the learned amongst His servants who
truly fear Allah.”
Surah Taha:114
• “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except
that which you have given us. You alone are the
knowing Wise.”
Surah
Baqarah:32

6. In all the above verses it is the
beneficial knowledge which is
being talked of & that is
Al –Ilm-al- Sharia

7. Non-Benefecial knowledge
Is the one from which the Prophet has asked refuge
with Allah in a beautiful supplication reported in sahih
Muslim-2722
“ O Allah! I take refuge with you from knowledge that
does not benefit, from a heart that has no fear, from a
soul that is never content, from an invocation that is
not responded to.”

8. BRANCHES
Magic-sihr
(Baqarah:
102)
Bayan (Abu
Dawood-
5012)
Geneology
(Partially)
Discussion
of Qadr
Astronomy
(Partially)
Dhat of
Allah (swt)
Excessive
debating
about
religion

10. Bayan
Intended meaning
expressed clearly
Intended meaning
expressed with such a
level of eloquence &
cleverly modified
phrases such that
they captivate the
hearts
Commendable-
directed to the
truth or aid the
truth
Blameworthy-
directed toward
falsehood or
confusion such that
truth appears to be
false or vice versa
Magic
Magic

11. It was said to the Prophet “Messenger of Allah!
How astonishing is the knowledge of such and
such a person!”
He inquired “Of what?”
They replied “Of people’s geneologies.’
He remarked “Knowledge that is of no benefit,
the ignorance of which causes no harm.”

12. “Learn of your geneologies such amount as would
allow you to join the ties of kinship, then desist.
Learn of the Arabic language such amount as would
allow you to understand the Book of Allah, then
desist.
Learn of astronomy such amount as would allow you
to travel in the darkness of land and sea, then desist.”
(Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al_iman #1723)

13. Umar bin Al Khattab said “Learn of
astronomy such amount as would
allow you to travel thorough land and
sea, then refrain. Learn of
geneologies such amount as would
allow you to join the ties of kinship
and would teach you which women
are lawful for you and which are not,
then refrain” ( Suyuti, al-Durr al-
Manthur, vol. 3)

14. “Whoever acquires
knowledge from the stars
has acquired a branch of
magic.” (Abu Dawud)

15. Using parts of the Quran to contradict other parts such that the one who
affirms the divine decree quotes a particular verse while the one who
denies it quotes another verse and they start quarrelling.
It is reported that such an event occurred at the time of the Prophet
whereupon he became angry and prohibited it
Such matters are to be considered as disputing about the Quran and this
has been prohibited

16. Discussing
Qadr either by
affirmation or
negation by
rationalizing &
employing
logical
arguements

17. Prohibited
Probing into the workings of
Qadr
Because humans will never be
able to understand its true
reality

19. • Negate many of Allah’s attributes
because of likeness between the
Creation & the Creator
• Like As-Samee, Al-Baseer as in
their view this is attributing Allah
with attributes of seeing and
hearing which is His creations’
• Eg- Mu’tazila & Jahmiyyah
• Affirm Allah’s attributes through
their logics and as a result derive
fabricated names & attributes
• Like “movement” – an attribute
they believe to be a natural
outcome of His established
attributes
• Eg- Karaamiyyah

21. “A nation never went astray after being
guided except by means of disputation”
(Tirmidhi,Ibn Majah)
“They only say this to you for argument’s
sake, they are indeed a disputatious
people” (Zukhruf:58)
“They ask you about the soul, say: the
soul is my Lord’s concern” (Isra:85)
Numerous evidences against asking
excessive questions, asking tricky
questions and also about events that have
yet to occur” (Bukhari,Muslim)
Evidences against
excessive debating

23. Benefecial
knowledge
Obligatory (fard-e-Ayn)
Optional/
recommended
(Fard-e-Kifayah)
Islamic faith/Usool-ad
deen/ilm
tawheed/aqeedah
Fiqh Al Ahkam/Fiqh
Al ibadah/acts of
worship
Optional Islamic
knowledge (ilm
ash-sharia)
Wordly knowledge
(ilm-ad-dunya)

24. Seeking religious knowledge is a collective
obligation (Fard –e- Kifayah) except that
which is individually incumbent. (fard-e-
ayn) (Majmoo ul Fatawa).
IBN TAYMIYYAH

25. It is the responsibility of every
accountable person (sane, adult
muslim; male or female; rich or poor)
OBLIGATORY KNOWLEDGE

26.  According to Imam Ahmad
bin Hanbal: it is obligatory on
every individual to seek that
type of knowledge which will
allow him to practice his
religion properly
Fiqh Al Ahkam/Fiqh Al ibadah/acts of worship

27. FiqhAl-Ibadah
Acts of worship/all aspects & rulings of
pillars of islam/iman like rulings related to
salah, zakah etc.
Necessary transaction of
business dealings
Knowledge of daily issues like marriage, tarbiyah of
children, divorce
Knowledge of sins of heart, tongue, limbs, private
parts etc.

28. Optional
knowledge(Fard-e-
kifayah)
Al ilm al-Sharia
(Optional Islamic
knowledge)
Al Ilm al-Dunya
(wordly
knowledge)

29. Wajib al kifayan
(The communal obligations)
 Knowledge of rulings of trading, dealings &
transactions
 Knowledge of religious endowments
 Knowledge of laws of inheritance
 Knowledge of universal, physical & material
sciences etc

30.  In todays world we are more inclined
towards dunyawi ilm rather than the ilm
obligatory upon every person
Even a doctor or a professor of world
fame is considered a jahil and is at loss if
he is not aware of how to attain taharah
or correctly perform salah

31. I. SEEKING KNOWLEDGE
(Al-ilm ash sharee)
The legislative
Islamic knowledge
(Ignorance)
Sin
39:9,7:138,46:23
Worship
ILM JAHL

32. KNOWLEDGE OF ALLAH – Ma’arif-Allah
OBLIGATORY KNOWLEDGE : AL-ILM- Uthool-e-thalatha
Fundamentals of ISLAMIC FAITH (ILM USUL UD-
DEEN/Ilm al Tawheed, Aqeedah) (fard ayn)
KNOWLEDGE OF DEEN- Ma’arifad-Deen
KNOWLEDGE OF PROPHET – Ma’arifa-Rasool

33. USOOL- E- THALATHA
Root word- Asl meaning
root/foundation
Three – Rabb, deen, rasoo
Three fundamental principles on
which deen rests

34. Sent (73:16)
messengers
KNOWLEDGE OF ALLAH
Our Lord(1:1)
Creator (7:11) (39:62)
Gave us purpose
of life ((23:115)
Worship Him
alone (2:21)
All types of worship only for Him
(Islam,Eeman,Ihsan,Dua etc.) (72:18)

35. Knowledge
of Allah
Iman/Belief
In Allah
His Existence
His Lordship
(Rubbobiyah)
His names &
attributes (Asma
was-Sifat)
His Godhood “Ilah”
(Uloohiyah)

36. KNOWLEDGE OF ALLAH’S EXISTENCE
INTELLECTUAL
PROOF
“Were they created
of nothing or were
they themselves
creators?” (52:3)

37. Allah is our only Lord , creator, Sustainer, Planner,
Controller of all affairs
None has share in His dominion (1:1,7:11,39:62)
TAWHEED RUBOOBIYAH

38. (Quran
51:58)
(Quran 1:2)
(Quran23:116)
(Quran
6:102)

39. AR-RABB
(TARBIYAH)
TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING NECESSARY
FOR DEVELOPMENT- from beginning to
completion
“From a sperm-
drop He had
created him, and
then moulds him in
due proportion
[Quran 80:19]
OUR
LORD
THE
NURTURER
“And Who sends down rain
from the sky in due
measure, then We revived a
dead land therewith, and so
you will be brought forth
from the graves.” (Quran
43:11)

40. Allah
provides
sustenance
for us
Didn’t leave
us without
purpose
Rather He sent
messengers with the
message of Tawheed to
worship only Him and
direct all worships
towards Him
“Indeed, it is Allah who is the
(continual) Provider, the firm
possessor of strength
(Dhariyat:58)
“Then did you think that We
created you uselessly and
that to Us you would not be
returned” (Muminoon:115)
“Indeed, We have sent to you a
Messenger as a witness upon
you just as We sent to Pharoah a
messenger” (Al-Muzzammil:15)

41. Knowledge of His beautiful names &
attributes (Asma-ul-husna was sifat)
TAWHEED ASMA WAS-
SIFAT

42. None is worthy of worship except Him
and all worships only for Him. He is the
only “ILAH”
TAWHEED
ULOOHIYAH/UBOODIYAH

43. Thus with such awareness of our creator , the most
powerful, the Al Mighty , one will denounce all
imperfections that ignorant and deviant people attribute
to Allah (sw) and so will refrain from shirk and bidaah.

44. II. ACTION based on KNOWLEDGE = FRUIT OF
KNOWLEDGE
 Action should be with eemaan in Allah (i.e., correct belief
of heart, speech of tongue & action of the body parts)
 Action is the establishment of obedience to him by-
 Doing what He has commanded
 Avoiding what He has forbidden

45. ACTION WITHOUT
KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE BUT
DOES NOT ACT
PUNISHABLE

46. III. CALLING TOWARDS TRUTH
16:125
 Debate
 Wisdom
 Fine admonition
12:108
 Truth (Haqq)
 Baseerah
(evidences)
 Sound knowledge

47. IV. PATIENT PERSEVERANCE

49. ISLAM (5
pillars)
KNOWLEDGE OF DEEN
EEMAN (6
pillars) (2:177)
IHSAN (26:128)

50. ISLAM means complete submission to
the will of Allah – the only God truly
worthy of being worshipped without any
partners

51. Evidence- Hadith of Jibreel
(Umm-ul Hadith)
Reported by Umar radi Allahu’anhu
• One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah
(sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) there appeared before us a man
whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was
exceedingly black, no signs of journey were to be seen on him
and none of us knew him.
He walked up and sat down in front of the Prophet with his
knees touching against the Prophet’s and placing the palms of
his hands on the thighs he said

52.  “O Muhammad”, tell me about Islaam.”
The messenger of Allah said “ Islaam is to testify that there is no deity worthy
of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform
prayers, to give zakah, to fast in Ramadan and to make the pilgrimage to the
House if you are able to do so.”
He said: “You have spoken rightly” and we were amazed at him asking him
and saying that he had spoken rightly.
 Then he said, “Tell me what is Faith (Iman)?” He (upon him blessing and
peace) answered, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His books, His
Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe that no good or evil comes but by
His Providence.” “You have spoken truthfully,” he said, and then, “Tell me
what is Excellence (Ihsan)?” He SAW answered, “To worship Allah as if you
see Him, for if you do not see Him, yet He sees you.” “You have spoken
truthfully,” he said, and then, “Tell me of the Hour.” He (upon him blessing
and peace) answered, “The one questioned about it knows no better than
the questioner.” He said, “Then tell me of its signs.” He (upon him blessing
and peace) answered, “That the slave-girl shall give birth to her mistress,
and those who were but barefoot, naked, needy herdsmen shall build
buildings ever higher and higher.”

53. Then the stranger went away, and I stayed a while after he
had gone, and the Prophet SAW said to me, “O Umar, do
you know the questioner, who he was?” I said, “God and His
Messenger (upon him blessing and peace)know best.” He
(upon him blessing and peace) said, “It was Jibril (Gabriel). He
came to teach you your religion.”
This narration is from Sahih al-Bukhari

57. EEMAN
SPEECH
HEART TONGUE
ACTION
HEART TONGUE LIMBS
Firm belief
upon
knowledge
contained
Confirmation
& affirmation
with the
tongue
Ibadah of
the hearts
(love, fear ,
hope etc.)
Enjoining good
& forbidding
evil, dhikr,
repentance
Enjoining good,
forbidding evil,
salah, zakah,
not cheating
etc.

58. Worshipping Allah as if you
were seeing Him & even
though you do not see Him
but He certainly sees you.
(16:128,26:217-220,10:61)
AL – IHSAAN
(Perfection in Ibadah)

59. First level of Ihsaan
Worship Him as if you were
seeing Him directing your
heart to Him & turn to Him &
seek to draw near to Him
yearning to the one you
love.(Muslim 1/1-3/no.1)
Second level of Ihsaan
If not the first level of ihsan then
worship Allah as though He
was eeing you

60. KNOWLEDGE OF PROPHET
Life &
Lineage
(lived for
63 yrs.)
Prophet & Messenger to
all mankind & Jinn
(7:158)
Sent as a mercy
Purpose- Call to the
light of ilm & tawheed
from the darkness of
shirk
Religion
completed
through
him (5:3)

61. He was also
a human
being but
the chosen
one
Thus one will not
elevate him to a
divine status nor will
he degrade him to a
status that does not
befit his prophethood
He
died
(39:30)
Knowledge of true
status, functions
and rights of the
prophet

62. BENEFITS OF KNOWING THE PROPHET
“Certainly you have in the life of the
Messenger the 'Best Model' for him
whose hope is in Allah and the last day,
and who engages himself much in the
remembrance of Allah.” (surah Ahzab:21)

63. BEST HUMAN BEING
BEST OF ALL THE
UMMAH
BEST OF ALL THE
RELIGIONS

70. Sourcesofknowledge(categorizationbyimam
ash-shafi)
Quran & authentic sunnah
Unanimous agreement of scholars when proof is not found in book and sunnah.
I)When some (one)sahabah said something and no opposition is
found.
I)Companions differed but Muhammed (saw) did’nt object.
I)Anlytical deduction(Qiyas).

71. ETTIQUETES OF
SEEKING
KNOWLEDGE

72. • Firstly – Sincerity of intention for Allah
• Hadith “Actions are but by intentions”
• A sincere Intention is completely free from riyaa
• Riya leads to loss of blessing from knowledge and is a sin
RIYA –
SHOW
OFF

73. C RRUPT INTENTIONS!
“Whoever seeks knowledge for the purpose of the
wordly life will not smell the fragrance of paradise”
(Abu Dawud)

74. Knowledge of Aqeedah at- Tawheed “ Know, that
there is none worthy of worship (in truth except
Allah..” (Surah Muhammad:19)
“to know”- “to have knowledge”
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
KNOWLEDGE

75. 1. Excellence in asking questions in a good manner
2. Excellence in remaining quiet & listening
attentively
3. Understanding
4. Memorising
5. Teaching
6. Fruit- Action upon it and keeping to its limit

76. REWARDS/GLAD TIDINGS FOR KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS

78. “Whoever Allah wants good for, He
gives him understanding of the
religion (Muslim , Bukhari)
UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION
- Ability to address matters upon sound
knowledge of Quran & Sunnah upon
methodology of pious predecessors
with wisdom

79. Three category of people saved from Allah’s curse
(Tirmidhi)
One who remembers Allah in a way
that pleases Allah
Religious scholars
Talib-e-ilm/student of knowledge

80. Envy is permitted only in two cases:
- A man whom Allah gives wealth and he
disposes of it rightfully and
- A man to whom Allah gives knowledge
which he applies and teaches it”
(Bukhari,Muslim)

82. Allah will exalt in degree
(Mujadilah :11)
Those who believe
Those granted
knowledge

83. Prophet has said : “The superiority of the
learned over the devout worshipper is like my
superiority over the most inferior amongst
you (in good deeds).”
He continued “Allah, His angels, the dwellers
of the heaven and the earth and even the ant
in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in
favour of those who teach people
knowledge.” (At-Tirmidhi)

84. Ilm before tawba &
istighfaar (surah
Muhammad:19)
Importance of knowledge more than
worship because
- Light of knowledge benefits all
- Worship if not done with the
correct knowledge is worthless

85. “It is only those who have knowledge
among His slaves that fear Allah”
He who calls others to follow the right guidance will have a
reward equal to the reward of those who follow him, without
their reward being diminished in any respect on that account
Surah
Fatir:28
Muslim

86. “Verily the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets . And verily prophets do
not leave behind gold or silver as inheritance but rather they leave behind
knowledge so whoever takes hold of it has taken hold of a large share” (Abu
Dawud)
Prophet is reported to have said “ Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by
snatching it from the people but He takes away by taking away (the lives) of the
religious scholars till none of the scholars stays alive. Then the people will take
ignorant ones as their leaders who when asked to deliver religious verdicts will issue
them without knowledge , the result being that they will go astray and will lead
others astray.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

87. Once a muslim has corrected
his beliefs and ibadah through
knowledge and cleansed his
devotion from shirk, it
becomes his responsibility to
call others to it
“O you who believe, ward off from
yourselves and your families a fire
whose fuel is men and stones”
(surah Tahrim:6) And this is only
possible with ilm al sharia.
Prophet has said “Every one
of you is a steward and is
accountable for that which is
committed to his charge.”
(Bukhari , Muslim)
Prophet has said- “Whoever is asked
about the knowledge that he knows
and then he hides it and keeps it
away, he will be bridled on the day of
judgement with a bridle of
fire.(Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Al tirmidhi)
Calling others
to knowledge

88. Prophet is reported to have said: May Allah freshen
the affairs of a person who hears something from
us and communicates it to others as he heard it.
Many a recipient of knowledge understands it
better than the one who has heard it” (At-Tirmidhi)

91. May Allah make our journey
journey of seeking
knowledge, acting upon
that and calling others to
that easy for us and
safeguard us from all the